Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-21

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The graph below shows the number of tourists visiting a particular Caribbean island between 2010 and 2017.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.

Student answer (Band 4.0)

The line graph illustrates the number of travellers visiting a specific Caribbean island from 2010 to 2017.

Overall, it can be seen that the total number of tourists increased over the time period. Visitors who stayed on cruise ships and island showed fluctuations in the pattern while visitors who stayed on cruise ships remained peaked in the last year.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

The opening identifies the chart’s subject and period, and the overview correctly notes that the total number of tourists rose. However, the response is far too brief to summarise the main features: it gives no figures, comparisons, or account of how the two visitor groups changed. The statement that both groups “showed fluctuations” is too general, and “visitors who stayed on cruise ships remained peaked in the last year” does not clearly report the key pattern: cruise-ship visitors rose overall to about 2 million in 2017, while island stays levelled off around 1.5 million. The required minimum of 150 words is not met. Add a clear overview and select several accurate figures to support the trends.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has a basic, recognisable structure: an introductory sentence is followed by an overview beginning “Overall,” so the reader can identify the topic and the writer’s main point. The ideas are nevertheless too limited to show clear progression through the chart, and there is no detailed paragraph comparing the series or supporting the overview. The second sentence also combines several points without making their relationships clear. For example, the contrast between visitors staying on the island and those on cruise ships is difficult to follow. Develop a separate body paragraph that moves chronologically or compares the two groups, using clear links such as “by contrast” and “whereas” where appropriate.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The vocabulary is sufficient to identify the subject, including “line graph,” “number of travellers,” “total number,” and “time period.” There is some variation in referring to visitors, but the range is narrow and several choices are imprecise or unnatural. “Visitors who stayed on cruise ships and island” is unclear, while “remained peaked” does not express the intended trend naturally. More precise chart language would help distinguish the categories and describe change accurately. For example, use “tourists staying on the island” and “reached a peak” only when a series actually peaks. Build a small range of trend verbs and comparison phrases, such as “rose steadily,” “remained stable,” and “accounted for.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response uses a few straightforward sentence forms accurately, including the introductory sentence and the clause “it can be seen that the total number of tourists increased.” The overview also attempts a more complex sentence with “while,” showing some range. However, the construction “Visitors who stayed on cruise ships and island” is incomplete or unclear because the second category lacks a parallel grammatical form. The phrase “remained peaked” is also grammatically awkward: a series may “peak” or “remain at” a level, but these forms cannot be combined this way. Use parallel noun phrases and keep the trend verb structure consistent, for example, “Cruise-ship visitors rose, while the number staying on the island remained stable.”

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